We all have accents - when we visit other areas. But where I live, I fit right in with everyone else from the area. Now, if I go up North then people notice that I have an accent. They can tell I'm not from there. The same for them when they come South. I know they ain't from 'round here.
When I travel and someone comments on my accent, I don't mind. I'm sure my accent stands out, especially the further away I get. I remember visiting and meeting people in Philly. They just loved my accent. The girls especially. As long as they don't go on and on about it, it's fine.
But what kinda pisses me off...no, not kinda, it does piss me off... are people who visit my area and comment on our accents, as if we're the ones out of place. Sorry, buddy, I'm not the one with the accent, YOU are. You're from out of town, so you're the one with the accent. And it happens quite a bit. I don't know what it is about Southern accents but a lot of people not from the South want to comment on it...and some want to make fun of it. Making fun of a Southerners accent while in the South ain't too smart. And we don't all have the same accent. The Southern accent isn't the same all over. It's just like accents up North. Different states...different cities even, have different accents. Put me and LeavingWT and snowbird together in one room and you'll have three distinct accents. We're all Southern but we're from different regions.